Anti-skid chain

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an anti-skid chain with a travelling net, held by an inner and outer holding device. The outer holding device is designed as a flat disk ( 8 ), at least in the area of the tire flank. Furthermore, the outer holding device has means for accomodating a tension rod ( 3 ) for the inner holding device outside the wheel flanks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a snow chain having a running net held by aninner and an outer mounting, each arranged in the region of the tireflanks, in which the circumference of the inner mounting can beshortened by a tensioning strand guided over the tread of the tire.

STATE OF THE ART

A snow chain of the above type is known from EP 0 263 778 B1, whoseinner mounting is expediently formed by a sprung steel hoop whose endsare connected to each other via a tensioning strand which is guided overthe tread of the tire to the outer mounting in order to be securedthere. The length of the end of the tensioning strand to be secureddepends on the distance between the ends of the inner mounting bridgedby the tensioning strand and the guiding of the tensioning strand at thebridging point; it may assume substantial values and result in problemswith the accommodation of the end of the tensioning strand on theoutside of the tire. Problems must be expected, in particular, whenfitting snow chains on so-called fat tires, the more so since these, inmodern vehicles, are increasingly accommodated in narrow wheel arches.In cases of the latter type, even a single threading eye for atensioning strand arranged in the region of the tire flank may result inbodywork damage.

As is known from DE 42 25 802 A1, attempts have been made to counter thedifficulties described by moving the tensioning strand, passed through athreading eye integrated into the outer mounting formed by a side chain,and guide eyes serving for its additional guidance and fixed to the sidechain, into the wheel rim region, in other words towards the axle. Thissolution, however, makes it necessary to use a rim protector, formed bya disc which is provided with hoop-shaped connecting members into whichthe side forming the outer mounting must be suspended. Although the rimprotector arranged between the side chain and the tensioning strand onone side and the tire flank and the rim on the other side preventsdamage to the vehicle rims caused by the tensioning strand securedoutside the region of the tire flanks, at the same time it too takes upmore space than is desirable, not least because of the connectingmembers enclosing the side chain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a snow chain of the type underconsideration which eliminates the problems indicated above by virtue ofa new design of the outer mounting and of the tensioning strand guide.This object is achieved, according to the invention, in that the outermounting is designed as a flat disc, at least in the region of the tireflank, and in that it possesses means outside the region of the tireflank for securing the end of the tensioning strand.

The space taken up by the chain according to the invention between thetire flank and the wheel arch inner wall is exceptionally small. Inaddition to the advantage of the low space requirement of the snow chainaccording to the invention, a beneficial effect also results from thefact that the chain net is pre-configured by the outer mounting in a waywhich facilitates the assembly. Finally, it proves expedient that aspecial rim protector can also be dispensed with.

Further details and features are apparent from the subclaims and thedescription which follows of two embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows the rear view of a snow chain having an inner mountingformed from a sprung steel together with a partial view of the runningnet of the chain,

FIG. 2 shows the front view of the snow chain according to FIG. 1 withan inner mounting formed by an annular disc and a crosspiece to secure atensioning strand,

FIG. 3 shows a section along the line III—III in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the region indicated by IV in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 shows the front view of a modified snow chain with a backcorresponding to FIG. 1.

WAYS OF EMBODYING THE INVENTION

In the figures, 1 is a so-called fat tire, in other words a t;re thattakes up a great deal of space and in many cases excludes the use ofsnow chains, parts of which project well beyond the tire flanks. Theinner mounting 2 of the snow chain fitted on the tire 1 is formed by asprung steel hoop which makes the fitting of the chain exceptionallyeasy. In order to enable the sprung steel hoop to be inverted over thetire 1, it has to be spread open. The distance between the ends 4, 5 ofthe sprung steel hoop, bridged by a tensioning strand 3 guided in themanner of a block and tackle, assumes substantial values here, so thatthere is no avoiding the use of comparatively long tensioning strands 3.The problem arising from the circumstances indicated lies in the factthat, after fitting is complete and the tensioning strand 3 has beendrawn tight, its excess length, which is situated at the front of thetire, has to be secured. In practice, this is customarily done in knownsnow chains by wrapping the end of the tensioning strand several timesaround the outer mounting, usually formed by a side chain, and theneventually suspending a hook arranged on the end of the tensioningstrand in a member of the outer mounting. It is understood that thewrapping of a tensioning strand around a side chain situated in theregion of the tire flank undesirably increases the overall width of thesnow chain and of the tire, which is wide in any case. As is apparentfrom FIG. 2, the problem described can be solved in that the end of thetensioning strand to be secured is accommodated outside the flankregion, dispensing with a deflection of the tensioning strand in theregion of the front tire flank. To this end, the outer mounting consistsof a flat disc 8 provided with recesses 6, 7. The disc 8 has holes 9distributed over its circumference, into which the end links 10 of chainstrand sections 11, 12 can be suspended, resilient connecting elementsalso being suitable as end links. In the region where the tensioningstrand 3 enters the central region of the disc 8, the latter is providedwith a cutout 13, in order to prevent the tensioning strand 3 fromprojecting further above the tire flank than the end links 10 of thechain strand sections 11, 12. The ring formed by the sections 14, 15 ofthe disc 4 is bridged by a crosspiece 16, which receives the chainstrand end to be secured. The crosspiece 16, having lateral webs 17, 18,is provided with an anti-return device 19 with a plurality of deflectionelements 20 for the tensioning strand 3. A hook 21 arranged at the endof the tensioning strand 3 may be suspended in one of a plurality ofrecesses 22.

It can be seen from the section shown in FIG. 3 that the disc 8 isprovided with an annular collar 23 projecting, for its positionaladjustment, within the rim bowl of the wheel and simultaneously servingto increase the rigidity of the disc 8, preferably manufactured fromplastic. To increase the rigidity of the disc, the latter—as indicatedin FIG. 4—can also be provided with beads 24.

Instead of a crosspiece 16, it is also possible to use a reel 26provided with a circumferential groove 25 to secure the end of thetensioning strand 3—as is shown in FIG. 5—the reel being connected viaspoke-like, flat webs 27 to the sections of a modified disc 28 whichform a ring and being designed to be either fixed or rotatable.

In both cases described, the discs 8 and 28, respectively, in additionto their function as an outer mounting and wind-up device for the end ofthe tensioning strand 3, also perform the function of rim protection,which is particularly desirable if light metal rims are used.

What is claimed is:
 1. Snow chain having a running net held by an innerand an outer mounting, each arranged in the region of a tire flank, inwhich the circumference of the inner mounting can be shortened by atensioning strand (3) guided over tread of a tire (1), characterized inthat the outer mounting is designed as a flat disc (8, 28), at least inthe region of the tire flank, and in that said outer mounting includesmeans in the region of a wheel rim for securing an end of the tensioningstrand (3).
 2. Snow chain according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe disc (8) possesses annular sections (14, 15) and a crosspiece (16),bridging the interior space of the ring formed by these sections, tosecure the end of the tensioning strand (3).
 3. Snow chain according toclaim 2, characterized in that the side edges of the crosspiece (16) areprovided with webs (17, 18).
 4. Snow chain according to one or more ofclaims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer mounting is provided withdeflection elements (20) for the end of the tensioning strand (3) to besecured.
 5. Snow chain according to claim 1, characterized in that themeans for securing the tensioning strand (3) include an anti-returndevice (19).
 6. Snow chain according to one or more of claims 1 to 5,characterized in that the outer mounting has a plurality of recesses(22) for the suspending of a hook (21) arranged on the outermost end ofthe tensioning strand (3).
 7. Snow chain according to claim 1,characterized in that the disc (28) consists of a flat ring and acentral wind-up device connected thereto for the end of the tensioningstrand (3).
 8. Snow chain according to claim 7, characterized in thatthe wind-up device possesses a circumferential groove (25) receiving theend of the tensioning strand (3) to be secured.
 9. Snow chain accordingto one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a cutout (13) isprovided on the circumference of the disc (8; 28) in the region wherethe end of the tensioning strand (3) to be secured enters the discregion.
 10. Snow chain according to one or more of claims 1 to 9,characterized in that the disc (8) is provided with an annular collar(23) serving for its positional adjustment and extending into the rimbowl of a wheel.
 11. Snow chain according to one or more of claims 1 to10, characterized in that the outer mounting consists of plastic orsheet metal.
 12. Snow chain according to one or more of claims 1 to 11,characterized in that the outer mounting forms a rim protector.
 13. Snowchain according to one or more of claims 1 to 12, characterized in thatthe flat disc exhibits a profiled cross section.
 14. Snow chainaccording to one or more of claims 1 to 13, characterized in thatresilient connecting elements are arranged between the running net andthe outer mounting.
 15. Snow chain according to claim 2, characterizedin that the outer mounting is provided with deflection elements (20) forthe end of the tensioning strand (3) to be secured.
 16. Snow chainaccording to claim 3, characterized in that the outer mounting isprovided with deflection elements (20) for the end of the tensioningstrand (3) to be secured.
 17. Snow chain according to claim 2,characterized in that the means for securing the tensioning strand (3)include an anti-return device (19).
 18. Snow chain according to claim 3,characterized in that the means for securing the tensioning strand (3)include an anti-return device (19).
 19. Snow chain according to claim 2,characterized in that the outer mounting has a plurality of recesses(22) for the suspending of a hook (21) arranged on the outermost end ofthe tensioning strand (3).
 20. Snow chain according to claim 3,characterized in that the outer mounting has a plurality of recesses(22) for the suspending of a hook (21) arranged on the outermost end ofthe tensioning strand (3).